LinuxQuestions.org
Share your knowledge at the LQ Wiki.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Networking
User Name
Password
Linux - Networking This forum is for any issue related to networks or networking.
Routing, network cards, OSI, etc. Anything is fair game.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 12-08-2008, 11:07 PM   #1
wastingtime
Member
 
Registered: Sep 2004
Posts: 86

Rep: Reputation: 17
Looking for simple, reliable router that will handle vpn


I am in search of a router firewall ideally below $100 that is reasonably simple to configure and manage, can handle few site-to-site vpn's and support GRE NAT translation so I could run a separate PPTP server behind it.

So far I have tried two routers that on paper met all the above requirements with pretty miserable results:

Netgear FVS 114 -
This router supports 8 site-to-site VPN and I think did GRE translation. It would drop the site-to-site vpn about once a day, requiring manual restart. But it's real problem started after 4 weeks of use, when it started to randomly freeze, requiring hardware reset. Initially it would freeze every few days, and within couple weeks the pace increased to every couple hours. I googled for this problem and found out it was common. I returned the junker and swore off Netgear.

Linksys BEFSX41 (most recent firmware) -
This router supports 2 site-to-site VPN and I found out that with the recent firmware it does not do GRE NAT translation anymore. It had worked reasonably well for a few weeks. The first problem started with it getting an error on the site-to-site vpn; it would automatically reconnect, however, having a wimpy cpu, key negotiation would slow the whole router for about 5 seconds. It does this every 10 minutes or so. The other problem started a couple days ago: it drops ssh connections every so often; I think that is a side effect of the site-to-site key negotiation.

So it time to return this junker too, except I do need a replacement.

What would you recommend?
 
Old 12-09-2008, 01:08 PM   #2
kilgoretrout
Senior Member
 
Registered: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,981

Rep: Reputation: 388Reputation: 388Reputation: 388Reputation: 388
Have you taken a look at the DD-WRT project:

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/What_is_DD-WRT%3F

It's an open source firmware project for certain linksys and other routers that greatly expands their capabilities. You can check their forums but I suspect you may be able to do what you want using their firmware and a Linksys WRT54GL consumer grade router.
 
Old 12-09-2008, 02:00 PM   #3
rweaver
Senior Member
 
Registered: Dec 2008
Location: Louisville, OH
Distribution: Debian, CentOS, Slackware, RHEL, Gentoo
Posts: 1,833

Rep: Reputation: 167Reputation: 167
Well, it's technically not a router but it may suit your needs well, try a Cisco PIX 506e sitting behind a fully opened up router. It functions as a firewall, vpn end point, dhcp server, and can handle basic routing as well. We used them pretty extensively as such at a previous job. Worked great. You can get them used on eBay for less than $100 easily.

You might could also use anything able to run dd-wrt, it's a pretty capable firmware as long as you get something with enough memory and flash to load the non-mini versions. It's meant to function more as a firewall than a router though.

<remote>--<internet>--<router>--<pix/fw/dd-wrt>--<lan>

Last edited by rweaver; 12-09-2008 at 02:18 PM. Reason: diagram
 
Old 01-04-2009, 05:24 PM   #4
deltabrown
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Mar 2007
Location: Seattle Area
Distribution: Slackware
Posts: 7

Rep: Reputation: 0
I've been using SnapGear products for a number of years now. They're a bit over your $100 target but work well, use linux, allow root access, and are only limited by processing power, (re. number of users and such).

http://www.securecomputing.com/index.cfm?skey=1556
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
pptp vpn connetion from behind non vpn router paind Linux - Networking 0 07-18-2008 02:44 PM
Need simple routing distro that can handle >2 networks Ex Noctem Linux - Networking 5 07-17-2007 03:18 AM
VPN: linux VPN server behind Linksys router hamish Linux - Networking 14 08-25-2005 08:42 PM
MASQ VPN to VPN Router hakcenter Linux - Networking 0 06-26-2003 04:14 PM
I need a reliable, simple backup solution kkempter Linux - Software 1 02-05-2003 12:31 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Networking

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:26 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration